I first heard snippets of Lorde’s song Team in ESPN commercials promoting women’s sports. Its rousing, hypnotic rhythm and beat amplified the energy and appeal to me of both the individuals and their given pursuit. I just had to find the whole song and I’m grateful I did since I enjoy it so much. This is the second song to feature here from Lorde after her previous entry Liability. The New Zealand popstar born Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor (born 7 November 1996) gained attention performing at a talent show in her early teens. She signed with Universal Music Group in 2009 and later rose to stardom as a 16 year-old with her breakthrough single Royals.
Team was the third single from her Debut LP Pure Heroine. It is is a hybrid of alternative pop and electropop featuring synthesiser, bass and snare drum instrumentation over a handclap based beat. The song was produced using the software Pro Tools. Lyrically, the track is a tribute to her friends and country. “I’m kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air. So there,” a lyric from Lorde’s song Team these raw but relatable lyrics reiterates a smell like teen spirit dirt on your shoe and chip on your shoulder angst. Lorde’s music proves difficult to categorize but its sonically atmospheric like Lana Del Rey‘s music.
Team peaked at No. 6 in the US and No.19 in Australia and No. 3 in New Zealand. By December 2014, Team had sold 2.45 million copies in the USA. The music video below was filmed in the abandoned Red Hook Grain Terminal in Red Hook, Brooklyn, the video’s content was inspired by Lorde’s dream of teenagers in their own world. On 12 November 2013, Lorde performed several songs from Pure Heroine during the Late Show with David Letterman to promote the album, including Team.
Wait till you’re announced
We’ve not yet lost all our graces
The hounds will stay in chains
Look upon Your Greatness and she’ll
Send the call out, send the call out
[Verse 1]
Call all the ladies out
They’re in their finery
A hundred jewels on throats
A hundred jewels between teeth
Now bring my boys in
Their skin in craters like the moon
The moon we love like a brother
While he glows through the room
[Pre-Chorus]
Dancin’ around the lies we tell
Dancin’ around big eyes, as well
Even the comatose
They don’t dance and tell
[Chorus]
We live in cities you’ll never see on-screen
Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things
Livin’ in ruins of a palace within my dreams
And you know, we’re on each other’s team
[Post-Chorus]
I’m kind of over gettin’ told to throw my hands up in the air
So there
[Verse 2]
So all the cups got broke
Shards beneath our feet
But it wasn’t my fault
And everyone’s competing
For a love they won’t receive
‘Cause what this palace wants is release
References:
1. Team (Lorde song) – Wikipedia
2. Team Lorde – The Rider Online
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Oh Lord, another prominent artist I know next to nothing about! 🙂
On a more serious note, while it falls outside my core wheelhouse, “Team” undoubtedly is a pretty catchy pop song, so I can see the impressive chart success it enjoyed.
I think it’s a wonderfully produced song and deserves all the accolades, and like you said the success.